June 11, 2015

Welk Homestead Community Conversation in Napoleon

BISMARCK— The State Historical Society of North Dakota invites the public to a community conversation on Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. at the Napoleon Golden Age Hall is located at 619 Main Avenue West. The Historical Society is requesting comments about the management and interpretation of the Lawrence Welk homestead near Strasburg. This 30-minute meeting will be at the beginning of the Tri-County Tourism Alliance meeting.

The meal during the meeting will include chicken, creamed potatoes, peas and carrots, melon and cookie, with a recommended fee of $8 to the Napoleon Golden Age Club. For dinner reservations, contact carmen.rath.wald@ndsu.edu or 701.754.2504 by June 23.

An additional community conversation about the Welk homestead will take place in conjunction with Tri-County Tourism Alliance meeting on July 14 at 6 p.m. in Ashley.

On July 1, the six-acre Welk homestead outside of Strasburg will become a state historic site managed by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. “These public town meetings will provide ways to get local people informed and involved in this great project. We will share information about planning for the site, and we also want to hear public suggestions about how to best manage and promote this site,” said Diane Rogness, historic site manager with the State Historical Society.

The Tri-County Tourism Alliance includes individuals and businesses in Emmons, Logan, and McIntosh counties and surrounding areas with an interest in preserving and promoting the Germans from Russia heritage and culture to enhance tourism.
The Welk homestead is the boyhood home of national entertainer Lawrence Welk (March 11, 1903 – May 17, 1992), who hosted “The Lawrence Welk Show” from 1951 to 1982. His style of music became known as “champagne music.” On Jan. 10, 2014, the State Historical Board voted to purchase the site for $100,000.

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CONTACT
For more information, contact Historic Site Manager Diane Rogness at 701.328.3508.
 

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